Oregon St. vs. Arizona St. Game Thread

Frank Kush Field at Sun Devil Stadium / Fox Sports Arizona and Fox College Sports / KEJO 1240 AM / KPAM 860 AM (Streamed)

Oregon St. (0-3, 0-1) travels to the toasty surroundings of Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe to meet Arizona St. (3-1, 1-0) tonight. The Beavers have beaten the Sun Devils three years in a row, including a 31-28 win last season, and have won 4 of the last 5 games in the series. However, prior to their 28-17 win 2 years ago, Oregon St. had lost 16 in a row in Tempe, dating back to 1969.

Oregon St., and head coach Mike Riley, will try to beat the heat in more ways than one against Arizona St. Riley and crew are under pressure to avoid the first 0-4 start to a Beavers' season in 20 years. And temperatures in Tempe will be in the high 80s at game time, and only decline into the low 80s during the course of the game.

The Beavers will try to reverse their red zone misfortunes, where they have only 2 touchdowns on 8 trips, while their defense has allowed their opponents 12 scores in 14 trips.

The Sun Devils had 4 takeaways, and no giveaways, in their 43-22 win last week over USC. If they can repeat that pattern consistently, they will be the clear favorite to claim the Pac-12 Southern Division.

The Oregon St.-Arizona St. "Erickson Bowl" game again features former Beavers coach Dennis Erickson against Riley, the coach he both followed and preceded in Corvallis. And the familiarity between the programs doesn't stop there; 4 of Erickson's current assistants were also assistant coaches under him at Oregon St., and two former Beaver players, LB coach Trent Bray and GA Alvin Smith are also on Erickson's staff.

Arizona St. is an 18 point favorite, in an important home game, before the Sun Devils hit the road for back to back games at Utah and Oregon. Arizona St. plays 4 of their next 5 games on the road after tonight.

For those needing a dose of Orange and Black and the Fight Song, here's a link back to last week's pregame by the Spirit and Sound of Oregon St., the Oldest Band in the Pac-12 in order to get you energized.

Buildingthedam.com will have coverage and analysis after the game.

Here's the place to chat (or rant) about the game, the season, and the day's Pac-12 action, or share stories from the 2000 Fiesta Bowl season, or any other anecdotes about coach Erickson.

Go Beavs!